I'm having the same issue. For my purposes though I want to batch render several different projects without interruption. So ideally I'd like to finish several different projects, then line them all up to be exported (with the same compression settings) automatically overnight or whatever.

I've been looking around like crazy for something but I haven't found anything yet. I'm using Premiere Pro at the moment but am open to other software if they could provide this.

Yes there is at least one, or the only one,
-Sony VEGAS 6.
1. You can finish your work in separate projects. Open a New Project for batch rendering. Drag'n'Drop your projects in the Timeline. dblClick-Select them, press, "R"-key to mark Regions one after another.
Go: Tools/Scripting/Batch Render -Click it! It will invoke Batch Render Dialog Box.

2. Set the path where your rendered files should be stored; Check "Render Regions" Radio Option; Find the desired Format Container; (f.i: Video for Windows) Expand it and check the desired Template(s) for encoding format(s) (f.i.: NTSC DV);

3. Click "OK" Button and "Go 2 Sleep".
That's around 3 steps tutorial, I can't get it any shorter
Regards

I was dabbling with another idea of just combining all the scenes in one project, editing them all in the same project, and put a few seconds of black between each of them. Then split it up later with another non-rerendering program (virtualdub for instance) but this could prove a much better option, especially combined with the network rendering options Vegas provides.

for illegal use?? you mean all those converters in the market are helping illegal activities?? how do you come to this conclusion?
if the suggest software is no help , you can come to this site http://www.sharewareguide.net/ type a key word and finde the answer